The 2023 NBA Draft is right around the corner. With the combine behind us and private workouts underway, we have a new round of NBA Mock Drafts as we sit three weeks away from selection day. Who are the OKC Thunder going to use the 12th pick on? Will they trade up? Can they continue to find value in the second round? These are all questions we will have answers to eventually.
Let’s see where the projections have the Oklahoma City Thunder three weeks before the 2023 NBA Draft. Who are some of the top targets on the board?
Who do the latest round of the 2023 NBA Mock Drafts have the OKC Thunder selecting?
Starting with the ESPN Mock Draft (subscription required), which initially reported that teams around the NBA expect the Oklahoma City Thunder to trade up come draft night. This would continue their draft day streak that has seen OKC make a draft day move every year since the 2019 Draft. However, the pick from ESPN was Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr. With pick 37, OKC selected Marcus Sasser, and at pick 50, Hunter Tyson. NBC also had the Thunder pick up Nick Smith Jr at pick 12.
In the CBS Mock Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder saw Anthony Black fall to 12, according to Kyle Boone, while Gary Parish has the Thunder lucking into Taylor Hendricks. Either would provide the organization a massive boost and value if the board shook out this way.
Bleacher Report’s Mock Draft had the OKC Thunder grabbing Duke big man Dereck Lively II who had an impressive pro day showing off that outside shooting stroke that Lively II had not put on display since High School. Though, it feels unlikely the Thunder would select Lively II at pick 12.
Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer selected Leonard Miller for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Besides Taylor Hendricks, who is a long shot to fall to pick 12, Leonard Miller is my favorite fit of these mock drafts. Miller played for the G-League Ignite this season, offering significant upside for OKC.
Who should the Oklahoma City Thunder select at pick 12? Soon we will know, but this is where the projections have it as we currently sit.